This week, Hubby & I were fortunate enough to get a date night and decided to take advantage of a soon-to-expire Free movie package coupon and go see The Hunger Games.
I didn’t know much about the movie except that it seemed that EVERYONE was talking about it. I knew there were books that I hadn’t read and I usually prefer to read the book before the movie, but realistically I wasn’t getting to read anything anytime soon and I have a whole bunch on my list already including finally reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.
I checked online to see what the movie was about and it seemed so disturbing…I had doubts…but decide to go anyway. Found myself wondering about how everyone was talking about going with their kids. Something didn’t jive.
We got to the movie. I have to say that for the first 30-45 minutes I was physically uncomfortable. My stomach was literally turning at the whole concept.
After the first scene of the actual “Games”, I started to ease up & get more ‘into’ the movie. That said, I was still SO uncomfortable with it.
Besides being disturbed by the whole concept, it kept bothering me that such creative thought and energy had been put into this dark idea. I kept seeing similarities between the scenes of this movie and scenes from Holocaust movies.
I realize that may just the point- to remind us that historically human beings have been capable of barbaric behaviour as well as barbaric ‘traditions’. That said. I’m still not OK with it.
Our world is filled with enough darkness all on its own, that I just feel like we should be using our creative energy to seek the light…the wonderful…the amazing. Someone suggested to me the movie is about hope…Maybe so, but I didn’t get that.
And then we have the clincher: This movie is rated ‘G’. Are you kidding me????? There’s NO WAY. The violence alone should nullify this. But it’s not just the violence. The concept, everything about is just….so… NOT ‘G’!
I guess the best message that I got from the movie (and perhaps the whole point of the movie) was when character Gale Hawthorne, played by Liam Hemsworth, states something along the lines of “If nobody watches, then they don’t have a game”. That’s a good and powerful message.
Yet while millions flock to watch the movie, I have to wonder: Why? How similar are we to the ‘fancy faces’ in The Hunger Games?
As I said to a friend via Facebook: If G=Gastrointestinal discomfort with the entire concept, then I guess I’d rate it a ‘G’. Otherwise, the G rating is completely unacceptable.
So there you have it. Glad I got it out.
I know that I’m probably standing quite alone here since the movie’s a huge success, but as you know, I write how I REALLY feel. I just can’t bring myself to agree with all the positive feedback surrounding this movie. A friend suggested that I might feel different had I read the books. I’ll concede to maybe…but I really don’t think so.
Until then, I will surround myself with as much positivity and happiness as I can. And I will put my creative energy and spirit into positive endeavours.
Happiness Project: Here I come!!!
Have you seen the movie? What did you think? Did you or would you take your kids? I’d love to hear what you have to say!
Happy weekend everyone!
Tanya
6 Comments
Hi Tanya- Your blog was really insightful, and clearly, this movie is no Twilight fluff. For a teen trilogy, it’s really taken on a lot of controversy and rightfully so! I think one of the most disturbing points is how it really meshes with our obsession of reality TV, how we watch the housewives, the fishermen, the gold diggings miners, Jersey shore, American Idol….we have become absolutely immune to the line separating reality and entertainment. We’re raising a generation of kids that feed off that stuff. Movies for Mommies is screening The Hunger Games, and I have mixed emotions about that. But thank goodness for good old democracy. We took a vote and the moms voted yes…..
Okay I have a huge issue with this whole series. My daughter’s grade six class was going to read it, I knew about the books and they are on my list to read for me. I called the principal immediately to find out why this book was chosen. I felt it was way too violent for my daughter to read.
Now I may be one of the only parents who screens what movies my children watch as well as tv & also what they read. I don’t get why our society want to push violence on our kids at such an early age? There are so many classic books for grade 6 to read, the teacher picked this one? I know the series is not all violence, that there is a really good story behind it all, but the problem is that they have to show the violence in order for us to understand the peace.
So the principal discussed it with the two grade 6 teachers and several others, I was told that professionals felt it was appropriate for this class. I asked her if she knew what it was about, she said no. I told her the whole concept and even had some excerpts ready to read to her. Needless to say she was shocked at the content, the book was shelved until she could look further into it.
This was before Spring break. I recently asked her if she had the chance to read it, she said no but her husband did and he felt it was not for this young age group. Also scholastic came out with a new rating which is Grade 8 and up. The high schools have asked the teachers not to read it as well as it is on the high school reading list, when they are at an age to better understand the story and the content.
For my children the books at this time are not appropriate and neither is the movie. You know we are the parents, we are the ones who are supposed to let our children remain innocent children for as long as they can.
Wow what a long comment! lol That’s more than my 2 cents Tanya. 🙂
Sorry I meant to comment to Tanya, but I hit reply to Robyn! lol
I’ll always take the holistic approach so here is what I think: every child is different and their personality needs to be known before deciding whether they should or could watch the movie. I do agree wholeheartedly though Tanya that G is the wrong rating for this film and yet I did consciously and with full awareness take my 9 year old AFTER my husband, daughter and I all read and discussed the books. We talked about so much and yesterday I asked her why she thought people were watching and fighting in the Hunger Games and she said well its like it was when Hitler was around, the people were afraid. Not all kids can get that concept that the participants were acting out of fear, but that and so much more like oppression, slavery, dictatorship and government control and world politics are amoung the topics that we discussed. If you have children who can discuss the concept of the movie with you and can deal with the moderate violence then I highly recommend these books and movie.
I went to see hunger games too, and i agree with you. Hunger games is destined to general public yet it makes no sense!!! Hunger games is full of violence, yet it was the film bully which created much controversy!
Well, I’m really late to this conversation, but here is why: I knew this was a movie my children could not watch when it came out years ago. And tonight we watched the movie because they insisted they knew the storyline and wanted to see it (now tweens and a teen). As interesting as the movie was, my boys all left the night with a bad feeling. If children are viewing these kinds of movies at a young age, how can they understand violence? I didn’t wven like it.